Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Time to make the call.

The Eagles played man-up press on the WRs and zone run blitzed Tony Romo to disrupt the Dallas pass timing. Romo forced many passes either on the run or before the routes were free, resulting in 23 incompletions and 3 INTs. They did the same against the Giants, forcing long downs by run blitzing and keeping the Giants running game in check (2 runs accounted for 56 of the 111 total rush yards)

On offense, McNabb's cast of JC transfers run precise short routes, but their speed is suspect. Westbrook continues to account for 40% of the offense, getting around 28 touches in rushing and passing. Westbrook is often the forgotten player (by the defense) in the passing game, which is why he's been the Eagle's leading pass target. McNabb has no compunction about taking off, and appears that he will be team's 2nd leading rusher by the end of the season; however, McNabb is not as mobile as in years' past. McNabb seems to pick on the opponents' weakness, either a corner, or overpursuit by LBs, or lack of toughness of the front 4. One interesting wrinkle that worked against the Giants and the Boys was the delayed draw out of the shotgun. It appears it is an option play, pass over the run blitz, draw when the blitz is faked or comes from the edge. Neither Dallas, New York, or Seattle really had a handle on defending this play. One key stat is that the Eagles have dominated TOP against their last few opponents and play inspired smart football to the final whistle. They've been "in" all but one game to the end and have 4 losses by 4 points or less and only one double-digit loss. One could argue that the Eagles are the unluckiest team this year, and could be 11-3 if a few calls went their way.

These guys beat the Vikes on the road, beat the Cowboys on the road and Washington on the road plus just missed beating the Pats in the Shaver. There's no quit for this well coached and well prepared team. And they've got an eye on retribution for the last two close losses.

Philly 17
NO 14

Brees gets sacked 5 times fumbles twice both leading to tds.
Stecker gets 50 yards and a td
Colston catches 6 for 65 yards and a td, but late in the game.
JD gets scorched for a long td
Westbrook gets loose and runs a draw for a score.
Philly dominates the line of scrimmage, keeping the Saints offense unable to gain rhythm and the defense from gaining field position dominance.
Saints start every drive inside their 25, many inside their 15.
McNabb runs around a lot, making the Saints D very tired and converts 5 third and longs to frustrate the Saints.

While it is hell to have the Eagles as my dominant regional game, this week is sweet for all that torture. I won't have to have papz and jnorwood and QBREES feed me. Go Saints!

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

What happen to the optimistic xan? I saw some of that guy for the past couple of weeks.

27-24 Saints.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Xan are you a saints fan bro. Wheres the faith at dude??

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

xan, first of all lay off the caffeine ;)

Hey, I think the two teams are evenly matched but the home-field advantage weighs just as heavily here as it did in the last two meetings.

We're catching Philly after a huge division win that took a lot out of the team. Philly has only won two in a row once this year and you're making this team out to sound a whole lot better than they are. The word "Dominate" should not be used for either team when describing this particular matchup.

Yes, the Saints will have turnovers, bad plays, poor field position and will give up big plays.

But at the end of the day we just need one more "big play" than Philly gets... Paging Mr. Grammatica...

Philly 24
Saints 27 AGAIN????!!

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

They failed to taking into account the meaning of the game for each team. Philly has nothing to play for except seeing if their back-ups can play so the can dump their stars in the off-season like they do every year in every sport! (Just ask Charles Barkley, Reggie White, Curt Shilling, & Allen Iverson.)

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

I'm going 24 - 21 SAINTS. Down 21-17 With 5 Minutes in the 4th Brees throws a floater over the head of the eagles secondary which is promptly bobbled by stecker landing into the hands of a waiting marques colston in the endzone. On the ensuing drive mcnabb's pass is batted up in the air at the new orleans 44 by will smith and picked off by scott fujita. The saints hang on to win but i almost have a heart attack. ; )

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Xan I dont think Philly is going to risk their starters getting hurt. Their backups are going to play. 24 Eagles 27 Saints.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

saints 27-eagles 24.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

I smell eagle's feathers. Is Xan a closet philly fan?

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

An Optimist sees the glass half full;
A Pessimist sees the glass half empty;
A Realist sees that there's twice as much glass as necessary.

I'm a Realist, but only when I'm not an Existentialist.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

I see it like this Stecker opens up the run game again which leads to playaction from Brees where Colston and Patton step up and philly best hope the decoe is nt ready to play then they will get pounded I m gonna eat eagle stew and watch my Saints go on to a 31-17 victory then be a redskin fan for 3 to 4 hours later Playoff Bound

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Philli will come in here and hammer away at us. This will be a no hold barred match. Philli wants us and would love nothing more than knock us out of the playoff race and end our season. The eagles talked about this game in the beginning of the year. A victory would make this disappointing season a bit easier to take. So with that said. saints 38 - 35 on a blood stained field.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Yeah, I think this one is going to be a blood bath. The Eagles are eliminated from the post season, but McNabb is playing for his job. You know he will bring his "A" game into the Super Dome. You know he wants to show the Eagles that he should stick around, or at least show the rest of the NFL that he is still a great QB. With a coach like Andy Reid, you know this team is not going to lay down. As far as a game prediction, I have none for this game. The Saints should win if they do the obvious, like take care of the football, get the running game going, eliminate big plays on defense, etc... We all know that story already.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

I hope we see Bush on the field, but as a slot or in the WR position with Stecker in the back field ... I think that may just swing the game for us.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

mcnabb has no A game...westbrook, on the otherhand...does.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Saints win 33 - 27.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

you beat me to it McNabb what A game.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

After spending an additional 4 days pondering fate and destroying lives, the following should be considered:

The Eagles O-line is not playing particularly well, and has had demonstrated an inability to keep athletic ends away from McNabb. Bull rushing won't work, but they are a bit slow on the edge and don't change direction well. As long as there's containment, stunts and run blitzes should negate the delayed shotgun draw that has become a staple of their offense. In addition, there should be a guy planted in Westbrooks' jersey to keep him from getting lose. Let anyone else beat you, but not the obvious guy. The Saints have employed the same basic gameplan the last two times they've faced the Eagles and have no reason not to re-employ it. JD aside, I think that the secondary is playing better than it has all season, consequently a few extra risks defensively can be taken in non-obvious passing downs to try and make Philly abandon the run early.

My only concern is that this team has fared poorly at home over the last two seasons. However, except for a collosal brain fart against the Bucs, this team should be 3-1 in their last 4 home starts. I think that last year's experience in the drive for a playoff spot works to the team's advantage. While fate is not completely in their hands, it is entirely in their hands to stay in the race and make Minnesota's task of winning on national tv against a fired up Washington team all the more difficult.

I'm giving the Saints 1 more TD and the Eagles one more FG.

Saints 21, Eagles 20. In a wild finish, the Saints keep the Eagles out of field goal range in the last 45 seconds of play. Game ends on a McNabb completion at the Saints' 45 when Brown tries for extra yards for a closer fg attempt and can't get out of bounds.

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Now you're talking. See what a little extra rest will do?

I see the Saints having trouble running the ball this week, partly because of Reggie being in the game. Instead of the pounding Stecker, we will see the Bush/Stecker/Bush/Stecker/Thomas show. Drew will take care of that problem, as he is the hottest QB in the leauge right now. Nobody can stop Colston, as he is still miffed at not being on the PB team. Saints score 3 TD's, 2 FG's = 27
Defensively, Saints give up big plays to Westbrook and whoever is running a route on David's side. Eagles get 3 TD's, 1 FG =24 and have the ball at the end of the game when the superdome is so loud, McNabb fumbles the snap and we recover for the win. Who Dat!

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

-The Eagles team is less than 100% healthy.
-This isn't exactly the statement game for Philly like last week against Big D. They may be emotionally drained from that contest.
-Stecker has found his legs and must be Man Mojo around camp these days.
-Saints defense honestly really only has to keep Westbrook in check. Do that and they can tee off on McNabb who doesn't exactly has his vibe rthis season.

The Eagles don't have nothing to play for and are only evaluating talent for next year. Will Kobb be taking snaps?

This won't in any way be pretty for New Orleans but they manage a win comfortably early in the fourth.
Saints 28, Eagles 16

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

The key here is that the Saints strike early and frustrate McNabb early.

Sure the Eagles beat the Cowfakes (biggest fake team in many years), the Redskins (which really aren't that good), and gave the Pats a scare, but they had something tangible to play for: rivalry, playoff spot, killing the giant; yet, let's not forget that they also got beaten by the Pukes and the Skins earlier, and drop 2 to the Giants... there's a resaon why they are out of the playoff race, after all.

Now, the only role they have is the infamous role of spoiler, which they very well can be, IF the Saints allow it, and by allowing it, I mean if the Saints don't go out early and score. They need to go out and put the pressure and the points early. If you allow a team with nothing to lose to hang around for a couple quarters, especially a team like the Eagles, they'll play you. But once they are behind, while they may not just roll and play dead and still go full throttle on the filed, that's when frustration starts setting in, and they stop listening to the coordinators, stop looking at the polaroids, stop talking about the game around the bench, etc.. and they start being careless, or trying some move/technique they wanted to try on a live game, etc...

Re: Fearless Predictions: Eagles at Saints 1PM EST
 

Saints 37 - Eagles 35